Managing negative emotions is "vital to entrepreneurs and business leaders"

Historian Nancy Koehn wrote a fascinating article about the parallels between Lincoln's presidential experience and the pressures on modern business leaders. While very few will experience anything like Lincoln's ups and downs - election to the presidency, Southern secession, military setbacks, public anger and derogation, the loss of a child, victory - all within a few short years - how he handled these can serve as a lesson to anyone.

What lesson? Koehn writes this:

The ability to experience negative emotions without falling through the floorboards is vital to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Ari Bloom, a strategic adviser to consumer-related companies and a former student of mine, put it this way: "Nothing prepares you for the emotional ups and downs that come with starting a business. There will be obstacles, big and small, that come at you every day, from personnel issues to supplier delays, to late payments or even hurricanes." Throughout, entrepreneurs must maintain their professional composure while staying true to their vision and their integrity, he said.

"Lincoln is striking because he did all this under extremely difficult circumstances," Mr. Bloom said. "Some of his ability to navigate such difficult terrain was about emotional intelligence and the deep faith he nurtured about his vision. But some of it was also about how he gathered advice and information from a wide range of people, including those who did not agree with him. This is important in building a business because you have to listen to customers, employees, suppliers and investors, including those who are critical of what you are doing."

It's true. Running a business successfully means navigating a maelstrom of emotions and experiences. Grounding, faith, resilience, vision and confidence - but not arrogance - are critical. Mistakes will happen. As will defeats. How will you respond?